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Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Karun Nair batted Tamil Nadu out of the Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium with a patiently compiled unbeaten triple-century. The 23-year old batsman had not been amongst runs in the lead-up to the grand finale after scoring prolifically in the previous season.

However, with his team reeling on 16 for 3 and KL Rahul retiring hurt, Nair watchfully built the innings. He not only salvaged it but set Karnataka well on course to retain the coveted trophy.

While speaking to the media after second day’s play, Nair had said, “I was getting a lot of 30s and I was getting out off one wrong ball.” Determined to change that, Nair decided to bide his time and deliver a big score when his team needed it the most.

So what had helped the middle-order batsman convert a 30 into a 300 this time? “I just concentrated and tried to make sure that I reach fifty first and then take it from there,” Nair told BCCI.TV after returning at stumps on Day-three with an unbeaten 301. “That’s the way it goes. Once you get the 100 and the field spreads out, you keep getting runs afterwards. So I just tried to make it as big as possible and not let go. And if you are not getting runs, you value every run even more.”

Patience characterised the young batsman’s stay in the middle and he was ably supported by KL Rahul who made 188. Speaking about the partnership, Nair said, “I know Rahul since I started playing cricket. we started together at same age group. It helps that we know each other so well. We just kept batting and talking to each other.”

So was there nervousness as they inched towards their respective double centuries? No, was the reply.“I don’t think we had any nervousness as such. We just had to spend time at the wicket and runs would come automatically because both of us are stroke makers. So, we just wanted to spend time at the wicket.”

Unsurprisingly, Nair rated this knock as the best he has ever played. “It means a lot to me,” he said. “We always plan like this. After yesterday we had planned that we have to bat the whole day today to bat them out of the match. I feel really happy that I have been able to achieve that.”

Batting for over two days, Nair has broken records and is on the brink of making some of his own. Asked if he was aware of them, he said, “At one point the team management kept telling that this is what is coming up but I wasn’t looking at that,” he said.

This is the longest that he has ever batted and the effort was evident. What is even more pleasing is that it has borne rich dividends. “The atmosphere in the dressing room is fantastic,” Nair said. “We just wanted to seal the title off by batting today and we will bat as long as possible tomorrow also,” he signed off.source: bcci.tv